Tobacco kills 13.5 lakh people every year in India. Faith as an organization strives and aims to reduce the mortality rate and reach people with the message of adopting a healthy lifestyle to lead an addiction-free life. We can save the lives of 3.7 million people from cancer every year by destroying tobacco.
The Faith Foundation has been working in the field of tobacco control and de-addiction for the past 17 years. The Health Department in collaboration with the District Panchayat in 33 districts across the state of Gujarat completed the “Yellow Line Campaign” launching program which is based on Section 6B of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.
The Faith Foundation has organized a cycle ride “Ride for Tobacco-Free Generation” (Ride4TFG) on the occasion of 4th February World Cancer Day. This cycle trip will be started from Ahmedabad Sabarmati Ashram on February 1, 2021, and it will end on February 4, 2021, at Dandi Beach in Navsari.
The Purpose of Ride4TFG is to reduce the consumption of tobacco and cancer cases associated with it, create a Tobacco-Free Generation by 2030. Faith Foundation will start a campaign from 4th February 2021 to 31st May 2021, “World No Tobacco Day” to declare all schools in the state of Gujarat as “Tobacco Free Education Institute” and to support the forthcoming amendment to the COTPA 2003 Act.
The cycle journey will last for a total of 4 days in which the employees of the organization will cycle on the Panth Marg used during the Dandi march conducted by Mahatma Gandhi. This Panthmarg will cover 7 different districts of Gujarat. The journey will be starting from Jetalpur (Ahmedabad) to Matar (Kheda), Borsad (Anand), Dabhasa (Vadodara), Bharuch, Wanz (Surat) and finally ends at Navsari. Various programs will be organized at this place to create awareness among the people about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
“A distance of 525km will be covered during the entire cycle journey. State Tobacco Control Cell-Gujarat State, Health Department-District Panchayat, District Education Office, District Legal Services Authority, Gram Panchayat, Sports Department and NYKS, School-College students and volunteer activists are to join with whom this journey will be completed successfully. At the end of the program, Dandi will be declared as “Tobacco Free Tourist Place – Dandi,” said Susan Samson
